Obama Appears Ready to Announce His Running Mate

[gristy]

Source: NY Times

WASHINGTON — Senator Barack Obama has all but finalized his choice for a running mate and set an elaborate roll-out plan for his decision, beginning with an early morning alert to supporters, perhaps as soon as Wednesday, followed by a trip to swing states by the new Democratic ticket, aides said.

Mr. Obama’s deliberations remain remarkably closely held. Aides said perhaps a half-dozen advisers were involved in the final discussions in an effort to enforce a command that Mr. Obama issued to staff: that his decision not leak out until supporters are notified.

Mr. Obama had not notified his choice — or any of those not selected — of his decision as of late Monday, advisers said. Going into the final days, Mr. Obama was said to be focused mainly on three candidates: Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia and Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/us/politics/19veep.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[Maine-ah]

1. heh....

Rock you Like Obamakaine....

edited to add, the rest of the lyrics to that song are completely unsuitable, but it's what popped into my head at the moment.

[merwin]

5. Hah!

I'm sure Weird Al could do something with it.

[grytpype]

2. If Kaine can get us Virginia and the Presidency, that's fine with me!

I just hope it's not Bayh, what a snoozer.

[Demeter]

3. Dear God, Not Biden and Bayh

The two never-rans. Perennially name-dropped, then totally dropped.

[thereismore]

4. Not Bayh, please. Obama-Kaine = OK. nt

[ohio2007]

28. whay not Bayh ?

Seems it may be going to him. What kind of problems will he bring to the race?

[Douglas Carpenter]

38. To put it politely, Evan Bayh is an extremist foreign policy neoconservative KOOK!!

Evan Bayh is such a wacko foreign policy extremist that one of his biggest problems with the current Iraq War seems to be that he worries that in might prevent a war with Iran.

http://washingtonindependent.com/view/stop-obama-bayh-08

---

"This is a hallmark of Evan Bayh. A former chairman of the Democratic Leadership Council and a past recipient Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson Award for Distinguished Service from the neoconservative security think tank JINSA."

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/02/03/evan_bayh_tough_but_smart.php

---

Evan Bayh was one of the earliest and most enthusiastic cheerleaders along with Sen. McCain and Sen. Lieberman and the whole crew of neocon nuts for the War in Iraq.

"The Committee for the Liberation of Iraq (CLI) is pleased to welcome Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) as an Honorary Co-Chairman. Bayh becomes the third U.S. Senator to join the committee after Sens. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced their participation on January 28.

The Committee is a neo-con group that was formed to propagandize the country into war. It boasted such illustrious neocon members as Bill Kristol, former CIA director James Woolsey, and even McCain senior foreign policy and Chalabi-bamboozler Randy Scheunemann, whom Josh has been blogging about."

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/bayh_as_veep_he_cochaired_wing.php

[Mojambo]

6. I think it's going to be Kaine

I'd be fine with either him or Biden.

Bayh would be a tough one to swallow.

[PittPoliSci]

19. i don't know if it'll be kaine.

i think he's trying to sure up his cred on national security. he'll probably go for biden, i believe, to fill that area. of course, this is all conjecture.

[Mojambo]

21. It all hinges on whether he wants to go full on with the outsider ticket or shore up nat security.

Kaine for the first, Biden for the second.

I think Bayh's foreign policy creds are far more of a problem than a benefit. He's out.

[davidnc76]

7. Biden all the freakin way!

[PittPoliSci]

18. biden for the win!

i've been saying it since i saw his short list.

[awoke_in_2003]

34. that gif is disturbing

but, like a train wreck, you just cannot turn away :)

[IndianaGreen]

8. Despite the psycho-drama, Hillary is the best Veep choice to guarantee victory!

Biden and Dodd would be good too, but not as good as Hillary.

[still_one]

10. I was once opposed to that, but havecome to believe you are right

Hillary would most likely secure a win

Don't think it will happen though

[Gman]

24. Hillary would be the one unifying force needed right now

This ticket needs the other person that made this election living history. The woman that ran a magnificent campaign against a Black man for the nomination. Put them both together and they represent what America looks like and is.

[ohio2007]

29. Hillary is on the ballot so

don't be suprised if she seizes the day away from Obama given the inch

[KoKo]

30. I don't believe I'm hearing this from you, Indiana....

what happened? Why do you believe she would be the best. I've never seen you as a Clinton supporter...at all.

:shrug: SHOCKED!

[Alexander]

9. It'll be Clark.

[still_one]

11. no way, Clark was told he wouldn't be speaking at the convention

and Clark said he would not be there

[Alexander]

12. If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.

That was from a random blogger on the Huffington Post.

[still_one]

13. I hope you are right, but supposedly Clark's son related it /nt

[Muttocracy]

14. what about Clark's interview on Rachel Maddow show about being in Italy

not to say he couldn't change plans.

[cobalt1999]

15. No Senators!

It's got to be a governor or ex-governor, preferably from a southern state.

Tim Kaine has to be the one based on the top three candidates.

[eggplant]

16. I'm still hoping for Richardson

He's scheduled to speak the night of the VP...

[Lorien]

17. Oh, Lord no

http://www.politicalcompass.org/usprimaries2008

[hay rick]

27. so vote for Ralph Nader again

The alternative is McCain. Get over it.

[blue97keet]

20. Byron Dorgan

[YvonneCa]

22. I like...

...Byron. :7

[awoke_in_2003]

35. Ha..

I think it should be me. I am not doing anything important for the next 4 (possibly 8) years. I could use the pay raise and great benefits, and I am a washington outsider. My years of watching Monte Python, Dave Allen, and other brits would bring a well tuned sarcasm and ability to turn a phrase to the VP office. I even know how to do the fish slapping dance. I do promise not to dress up as a woman, unless the skit really calls for it :)

Oh, and welcome to DU.

[harmonicon]

23. Dear god, all horrible choices

Obama better choose the person who he thinks would be the best president, should he for some reason, die in office or otherwise not be able to carry out the job. Picking someone because of where they're from, or what their 'foreign policy' or military experience is will be a death blow to his campaign. I disagree with Obama in many ways in terms of his platform, but I do like how he's run his campaign. If this were all about bullshit strategy and pundit bullshit talking point-fodder, a black senator from a sure-thing Democratic state would be the last person who should be running for president.

[ohio2007]

26. you honestly thought he was going to pick you as the best choice?

as long as it isn't Hillary

[harmonicon]

39. no, I didn't think that

I don't think he should pick anyone who voted for this failed war. I honestly think that the fact that he didn't vote for this damn war (he couldn't at the time anyway, but he also denounced it) is why he's the nominee right now. Picking Clinton or Biden would be a disaster for that reason. If he thinks having voted for the war is ok, my estimation of Obama will drop even lower than it has since already watching him become more and more conservative. I also don't think picking a conservative white dude is going to help his chances. Does anyone think that a racist voter would think "geez, I hate me them blacks, but this feller's got a white dude whose granpappy linched people runnin' with him. That seals my vote." ?

[wisteria]

36. I agree. He should consider if all those on his list are presidential material. n/t

[ohio2007]

25. Evan Bayh of Indiana

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evan_Bayh

was leaked on CNN accidently but I don't know if it's true

may know better tomorrow if somebody is in hot water over it.

[KoKo]

31. Could we title that Photo: "Mr. NeoCon of Indiana?" ....n't

[jaybeat]

32. Better not be Biden

If I'm old enough to remember how he treated Anita Hill, so is Obama...

[paulk]

33. three totally uninspired choices

I guess that's the "change we can believe in"....

[wisteria]

37. I agree. None are even progressive. Perhaps, Obama is going for just a little change. n/t